Kent Wildlife Trust sent a lengthy response to the proposals, detailing their concerns that the plans would increase boat traffic, watersports and other disturbances and highlighted the risks the move would pose to the vulnerable birds and seals that breed in the area.
Last year the charity also raised awareness around the dangers of seal disturbance at the site, home to Kent’s largest population of the marine mammal who are often worried by jet skiers, kite surfers and paddle boarders who get too close. Repeated seal disturbance can lead to seals injuring themselves, being left unable to feed their young and even death.
The granting of the Marine Licence is one of several pressures currently being put on the site, which was opened as a National Nature Reserve by Sir David Attenborough in 1999, in addition to recreational disturbance, the National Grid has earmarked the site to host their Sea Link Project, a 145km electricity cable linking Kent and Suffolk.
In December Kent Wildlife Trust launched a campaign asking the National Grid to “Rethink Sea Link” highlighting that whilst they support renewable energy, it should not be to the cost of wildlife, especially when viable alternatives exist.
Planning and Policy Officer for Kent Wildlife Trust, Emma Waller said: “We are shocked by the decision to approve a licence for new pontoons at Port Richborough.
“It is worrying that the cumulative impacts of recreational activities, which would see an increase from two to three boats a week to 15 boats a day, appears not to have been considered. This would include an increase in the use of jet skis, paddleboards and noise and water pollution.
“These collective impacts are likely to adversely affect the wildlife at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay, which are already at risk of significant disturbance from National Grid’s Sea Link Project. The granting of this licence is yet another blow to local wildlife and we are dismayed by this decision.
“My fear is that with all this disturbance, the seals are just going to move away and not return. It is not every day you see seals in the wild, we are privileged to have a place where we can take our binoculars and watch these magnificent marine mammals in their natural environment, but we are pushing them further and further away.”
Protected Area Warden for the Area, Nina Jones added: “Whilst this decision is a blow, we will continue to work with staff at the Marina, who have expressed a strong desire to minimise the impacts to the environment. I remain hopeful that, by working together and putting wildlife at the heart of what we do, we can achieve a workable outcome for the birds, seals and other marine life that call Sandwich and Pegwell Bay home.”
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Whilst Kent Wildlife Trust supports renewable energy solutions, the trust is worried that the plans are harmful to wildlife and will potentially involve trenching areas of Pegwell Bay, a wildlife-rich habitat with multiple protections.
National Grid acknowledges that the proposed route for Sea Link has numerous environmental constraints that will directly impact marine and terrestrial designated sites for nature conservation and that these impacts can be mitigated through careful design and trenchless techniques.
In December Kent Wildlife Trust responded to the Sea Link consultation, the response can be viewed here.
The Trust was concerned with the lack of ecological surveys completed before the PIER (Preliminary Environmental Investigation Report) was submitted and would like to see National Grid resubmit the PIER.
Ofgem U-turn for Isle of Grain power project leaves conservationists asking National Grid to “Rethink Sea Link” and dump environmentally damaging plans for Pegwell Bay.
The moment over a thousand pounds worth of damage was done by heartless thieves who targeted a charity in Sevenoaks has been caught on camera.
Kent Wildlife Trust is in the process of repairing damage at the Jeffery Harrison Visitor Centre in Brandbourne Road, Sevenoaks. The damage was caused during a burglary that happened overnight between Tuesday 22nd October and Wednesday, 23rd October 2024.
